Recipe: Lemon Coconut Drop Shortbread Cookies

Lemon Coconut Drop Shortbread Cookies are like snowball cookies but with glaze instead of a powdered sugar coating. They are buttery and light with a tender, yet crumbly shortbread-style texture. Top with smooth lemon glaze plus a garnish of coconut or sprinkles to make a beautiful two-bite cookie.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1½ Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

    • Equipment

  • Mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Whisk

    • Total Time/Prep

    Total Time: 1 hour

    Prep Time: 45 minutes

    Cook Time: 15 minutes

    Instructions

    1. Finely chop or pulse the sweetened shredded coconut so the pieces are smaller.
    2. In a mixer with paddle: beat softened butter about 1 minute until smooth.
    3. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, coconut extract, and lemon zest; beat until combined. Scrape bowl.
    4. Add lemon juice, salt, the chopped coconut, and flour; mix until a thick dough comes together (it may look crumbly at first—keep mixing).
    5. Cover the bowl and chill the dough 30 minutes (up to 3 days). If chilled longer than ~2 hours, let it sit out 30 minutes before rolling.
    6. Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
    7. Roll dough into 1-Tablespoon balls and set 2 inches apart. If dough seems crumbly, keep rolling—warmth of hands helps it bind.
    8. Bake 14–15 minutes, until the bottoms are just lightly golden.
    9. Cool on the sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Let cookies cool completely before glazing.

    Recipe Source

    Sally's Baking

    Recipe Website Reference

  • Pinch of Yum
    • Pinch of Yum is a visually engaging food blog that I thought was very interactive and easy to follow for users. The site’s high-quality photography and conversational writing style make it visually appealing. There were various sections I could click onto, such as "Quick and Easy", "Vegetarian", "Meal Prep", etc, which I thought made it super easy for users to find the type of meal they want to cook.
  • Epicurious
    • Epicurious feels very polished and professional, with bold typography and a magazine layout. The site integrates videos and articles, making it feel like both a recipe hub and a culinary magazine. I enjoyed how clean the website was, with the chosen typefaces and color palette.
  • Budget Bytes
    • Budget Bytes emphasizes clarity and functionality, with a straightforward design that highlights cost per recipe and serving. The site uses consistent color coding, clear icons, and a minimalist recipe card format that makes information easy to scan. I liked the minimal and straightforward design style of this website.

    Non-Recipe Website Reference

  • Gemnote
    • I liked the editorial-style typography with a subtle vintage feel to the website. It's clean and minimal, yet includes a lot of stylistic choices on design.
  • Addidas Arena
    • I thought that the dynamic typography and layout played out nicely, creating an immersive experience for the users. I felt that this website was very interactive and included nice micro animations.
  • Diko
    • Although this website is a little chaotic, I thought that the maximalist concept worked very nicely to give this intentionally messy, somewhat rebellious design system.